day's work to a conclusion。〃
Mycroft Holmes and Lestrade had e round by appointment after
breakfast next day and Sherlock Holmes had recounted to them our
proceedings of the day before。 The professional shook his head
over our confessed burglary。
〃We can't do these things in the force； Mr。 Holmes；〃 said he。
〃No wonder you get results that are beyond us。 But some of these
days you'll go too far； and you'll find yourself and your friend
in trouble。〃
〃For England； home and beauty……eh； Watson？ Martyrs on the altar
of our country。 But what do you think of it； Mycroft？〃
〃Excellent； Sherlock！ Admirable！ But what use will you make of
it？〃
Holmes picked up the Daily Telegraph which lay upon the table。
〃Have you seen Pierrot's advertisement to…day？〃
〃What？ Another one？〃
〃Yes； here it is：
〃To…night。 Same hour。 Same place。 Two taps。 Most vitally
important。 Your own safety at stake。
〃Pierrot。
〃By George！〃 cried Lestrade。 〃If he answers that we've got him！〃
〃That was my idea when I put it in。 I think if you could both
make it convenient to e with us about eight o'clock to
Caulfield Gardens we might possibly get a little nearer to a
solution。〃
One of the most remarkable characteristics of Sherlock Holmes was
his power of throwing his brain out of action and switching all
his thoughts on to lighter things whenever he had convinced
himself that he could no longer work to advantage。 I remember
that during the whole of that memorable day he lost himself in a
monograph which he had undertaken upon the Polyphonic Motets of
Lassus。 For my own part I had none of this power of detachment；
and the day； in consequence； appeared to be interminable。 The
great national importance of the issue； the suspense in high
quarters； the direct nature of the experiment which we were
trying……all bined to work upon my nerve。 It was a relief to
me when at last； after a light dinner； we set out upon our
expedition。 Lestrade and Mycroft met us by appointment at the
outside of Gloucester Road Station。 The area door of Oberstein's
house had been left open the night before； and it was necessary
for me； as Mycroft Holmes absolutely and indignantly declined to
climb the railings； to pass in and open the hall door。 By nine
o'clock we were all seated in the study； waiting patently for our
man。
An hour passed and yet another。 When eleven struck； the measured
beat of the great church clock seemed to sound the dirge of our
hopes。 Lestrade and Mycroft were fidgeting in their seats and
looking twice a minute at their watches。 Holmes sat silent and
posed； his eyelids half shut； but every sense on the alert。
He raised his head with a sudden jerk。
〃He is ing；〃 said he。
There had been a furtive step past the door。 Now it returned。
We heard a shuffling sound outside； and then two sharp taps with
the knocker。 Holmes rose； motioning us to remain seated。 The gas
in the hall was a mere point of light。 He opened the outer door；
and then as a dark figure slipped past him he closed and fastened
it。 〃This way！〃 we heard him say； and a moment later our man
stood before us。 Holmes had followed him closely； and as the man
turned with a cry of surprise and alarm he caught him by the
collar and threw him back into the room。 Before our prisoner had
recovered his balance the door was shut and Holmes standing with
his back against it。 The man glared round him； staggered； and
fell senseless upon the floor。 With the shock； his broad…brimmed
hat flew from his head； his cravat slipped sown from his lips；
and there were the long light beard and the soft； handsome
delicate features of Colonel Valentine Walter。
Holmes gave a whistle of surprise。
〃You can write me down an ass this time； Watson；〃 said he。 〃This
was not the bird that I was looking for。〃
〃Who is he？〃 asked Mycroft eagerly。
〃The younger brother of the late Sir James Walter； the head of
the Submarine Department。 Yes； yes； I see the fall of the cards。
He is ing to。 I think that you had best leave his examination
to me。〃
We had carried the prostrate body to the sofa。 Now our prisoner
sat up； looked round him with a horror…stricken face； and passed
his hand over his forehead； like one who cannot believe his own
senses。
〃What is this？〃 he asked。 〃I came here to visit Mr。 Oberstein。〃
〃Everything is known； Colonel Walter；〃 said Holmes。 〃How an English gentleman could behave in such a manner is beyond my prehension。 But your whole correspondence and relations with Oberstein are within our knowledge。 So also are the circumstances connected with the death of young Cadogan West。
Let me advise you to gain at least the small credit for repentance and confession； since there are still some details which we can only learn from your lips。〃
The man groaned and sank his face in his hands。 We waited； but he was silent。
〃I can assure you；〃 said Holmes； 〃that every essential is already known。 We know that you were pressed for money； that you took an impress of the keys which your brother held； and that you entered into a correspondence with Oberstein； who answered your letters through the advertisement columns of the Daily Telegraph。
We are aware that you went down to the office in the fog on Monday night； but that you were seen and followed by young Cadogan West； who had probably some previous reason to suspect you。 He saw your theft； but could not give the alarm； as it was just possible that you were taking the papers to your brother in London。
Leaving all his private concerns； like the good citizen that he was； he followed you closely in the fog and kept at your heels until you reached this very house。 There he intervened； and then it was； Colonel Walter； that to treason you added the more terrible crime of murder。〃
〃I did not！ I did not！ Before God I swear that I did not！〃 cried our wretched prisoner。
〃Tell us； then； how Cadogan West met his end before you laid him upon the roof of a railway carriage。〃
〃I will。 I swear to you that I will。 I did the rest。 I confess it。 It was just as you say。 A Stock Exchange debt had to be paid。 I needed the money badly。 Oberstein offered me five thousand。 It was to save myself from ruin。 But as to murder； I am as innocent as you。〃
〃What happened； then？〃
〃He had his suspicions before； and he followed me as you describe。 I never knew it until I was at the very door。 It was thick fog； and one could not see three yards。 I had given two taps and Oberstein had e to the door。 The young man rushed up and demanded to know what we were about to do with the papers。
Oberstein had a short life…preserver。 He always carried it with him。 As West forced his way after us into the house Oberstein struck him on the head。 The blow was a fatal one。 He was dead within five minutes。 There he lay in the hall； and we were at our wit's end what to do。 Then Oberstein had this idea about the trains which halted under his back window。
But first he examined the papers which I had brought。
He said that three of them were essential； and that he must keep them。 'You cannot keep them；' said I。
'There will be a dreadful row at Woolwich if they